County Home sale removed from tentative budget

October 5, 2012

MAYVILLE - The legislature's Audit and Control Committee today removed the sale of the Chautauqua County Home from the 2013 tentative county budget.

Committee chairman John Runkle, R-Stockton, said including the $6.3 million profit from the sale of the Dunkirk nursing facility was "fiscally irresponsible." Runkle noted that no decision on the home has been made, so its profit has no place in next year's spending plan at the moment.

By eliminating the County Home sale from the 2013 budget, the committee opted to raise the county tax rate by 18 cents and use additional fund balance to make up the $6.3 million potential County Home profit. The use of fund balance was cautioned by Susan Marsh, county finance director, over its impact on the county bond rating.

The legislature will meet Thursday, Oct. 18, for a special meeting on the County Home. Legislature chairman Jay Gould, R-Ashville, said a vote on the 216-bed facility will take place that night.